


,3)5 ' ; 



THE TAUFERS: 



OE THE 



GERMAN BAPTIST KRETJIREN. 



THE OKIGIN, HISTOEY, EELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND ACHIEVE- 
MENTS OF ONE OF THE PROMINENT RELIGIOUS 
DENOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. 




binted prom the new era, 
Lancaster, Pa. 



47*5448 



THE TAUFERS: 



OR THE 



GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN. 



THE ORIGIN, HISTORY, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND ACHIEVE- 
MENTS OF ONE OF THE PROMINENT RELIGIOUS 
DENOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Reprinted from The New Era, 
Lancaster, Pa. 



\p 






THE GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN; 



One of the most singular facts in the 
ecclesiastical history of Pennsylvania 
is, that the second of the German re- 
ligious denominations that secured a 
footing in Penn's Province, and built 
deep and strong the foundations of 
their faith, and which, until this very 
hour, is one of the best known of all 
the sect people who have left their im- 
press upon our State — it is strange, we 
say, that these people should have re- 
mained without an historian until the 
present year of grace. We allude to the 
denomination so generally scattered 
over the German counties of this 
State, and who have extended their 
lines until they reach far southward, 
and westward beyond the Great River 
— the people who officially call them- 
selves the "German Baptist Brethren 
Church, "but who are variously known 
as "Dompelaers," because they im- 
merse with a forward action; as "Ana- 
baptists," because they reject and de- 
ny the validity of infant baptism; as 
"Taufers," "Tunkers," "Tunkards/' 
"Dunkers," "Dunkards," and "Dip- 
pers," because of their belief in im- 
mersion; as "Wittgenstein,"or "Schwar- 
zenau Baptists," because of the place 
of their origin; as "German town Bap- 
tists," with reference to the place of 
their first organization in America,and 
by themselves as "Brethren," to de- 
note their intimate fellowship. They 
are, perhaps, best known hereabouts 
by the German word "Taufers" and 
"Tunkers." 

Without a Written History. 
Jt is most singular, as we have al- 
ready said, that these people, so well 



*A History of the German Baptist 
Brethren in Europe and America. By- 
Martin Grove Brumbaugh, A. M., Ph. D. 
1 vol., 8 vo., pp. xxii-559. 



(4) 

known in the religious history of 
Pennsylvania for cue hundred and 
seventy-five years, should yet have 
been without a history of their own 
until the past month. Now, however, 
competent and reverent hands, fervent 
in the faith and in the work, have 
taken up the task, and the result is 
before us in a goodly volume of 559 
pages, wholly drawn from original, 
scattered and obscure sources and 
woven into a homogeneous whole with 
a skill and a fulness worthy of all 
commendation. 

Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh, the author of 
this book, is most favorably known in 
this State as the President of that 
Brethren institution, Juniata College, 
as a professor in the University of 
Pennsylvania, and the author of 
numerous books. It is not too much 
to say, perhaps, that no man in Penn- 
sylvania is so well equipped for writ- 
ing a history of the "Brethren" as Dr. 
Brumbaugh. A man of wide culture, 
who has carefully studied the written 
records and traditions of his church, 
and who, not long ago, became the 
possessor of the famous library of that 
eminent antiquarian, Abraham H. Cas- 
sel, of Harleyville, by all odds the 
fullest collection of books on the 
pietistic sects of Pennsylvania in ex- 
istence, he has had at his command 
the entire resources still accessible for 
the preparation of such a history. He 
has done a most excellent work, for 
which his church can never adequately 
thank him. It is our intention to 
present to our readers — and The New 
Era has always had a large clientage 
among these people — some of the more 
notable facts rela + ive to the origin, 
history and religious cultus of the 
"Taufers," as we have had them for 
nearly two hundred years, and as we 
have them at this very hour. 

They have been confused with other 
people, with the Mennonites, the Am- 
ish, the Separatists, the Seventh-Day 



( 5) 

Baptists and the Pietists of the Wissa- 
hickon; but they are distinct and sep- 
arate from them all, although, for a 
time, closely allied with theEphrataites, 
who are themselves an offspring of the 
Brethren. They owe their origin to 
that religious unrest that followed the 
Reformation in Germany. They broke 
with the doctrines of the older reform- 
ers in various matters of creed, and 
especially on the question of baptism. 

Origin of the Church. 

It was in 1708 that the Brethren or 
Taufer church had its origin. In that 
year, at Schwarzenau, Province of 
Wittgenstein, in Hesse-Cassel, eight 
pious souls, early in the morning, in 
the presence of many curious on-look- 
ers, knelt by the banks of the river 
Eder in fervent prayer. Then one of 
their number led Alexander Mack into 
the river and immersed him three 
times in its waters in the name of the 
Holy Trinity. Then Mack baptized the 
other seven, and these eight persons 
organized themselves into a congrega- 
tion with Mack as their leader, and 
thus originated the "Taufers," or Ger- 
man Baptist Church. Their names 
were as follows: Alexander Mack, 
George Grebi, Anna Margaretta Mack, 
Lucas Vetter, Joanna Noethinger, John 
Kipping, Andrew Bony, Johanna Kip- 
ping. 

These men were not mere enthusi- 
asts. They came from Hesse-Cassel, 
from Switzerland and from Wurtem- 
burg. They had all fled from oppres- 
sion, and were temporarily gathered at 
Wittgenstein, and were all members of 
the Lutheran and Caivanistic faith. 
They were dissatisfied with the ritual- 
ism and formalism that prevailed 
among the Pietists and the Reformers, 
so they preferred to formulate a creed 
of their own rather than fight with 
their brethren within the fold. A full 
account was given of all these things 
by Mack. This man was wealthy, own- 



(6) 

ing lands and mills, and was of the 
Reformed faith. He became a student, 
and by his superior mental endow- 
ments, a leader, the pastor and guid- 
ing spirit of the new order, and be- 
came a mighty power in its extension 
and direction. 

In the New World. 

The original congregation prosper- 
ed,and soon a branch independent con- 
gregation was organized at Crefelt, 
the very spot from which the colony of 
Mennonites which founded German- 
town in 1683 had come — the first Ger- 
man colony in Pennsylvania. Upon 
the death of Count Henry, of Schwar- 
zenau, who had extended his protec- 
tion to the young sect, persecutions 
arose, and the members of the mother 
congregation fled to Friesland, in the 
Netherlands, where some Hollanders 
also became members. But the Men- 
nonites who had located at German- 
town forty-nine years before had so 
thriven and prospered that the news. 
of ; their success was bruited all 
through the Palatinate and the Neth- 
erlands. The religious and civil free- 
dom extended by the general laws of 
Penn to the men of every creed and 
clime had already called thousands 
from the Old World to the New, and 
decided Mack and his followers to mi- 
grate to Pennsylvania. Accordingly, 
in the spring of 1729, about thirty 
families, among whom was the found- 
er, his wife and three sons, set sail 
from the city of Rotterdam, in the 
ship Allen, commanded by Captain 
James Craigie, and, after a long and 
tempestuous voyage, they landed at 
Philadelphia on September 15, 1729. 
That was the beginning of the "Tau- 
ter" church in the New World. 

The newcomers received a hearty 
welcome from the Germantown Men- 
nonites, many of whom were known to 
them personally. In that place, there- 
fore, was founded the first church of 



(7) 

the Brethren established in America. 
Mack, still the head of the orga- 
nization, presided over its destinies 
with great discretion and wisdom, and 
its membership enlarged rapidly. An- 
other church was soon established at 
Coventry, on the Schuylkill, and Mar- 
tin Urner was ordained Bishop of the 
same. Mack and Urner were the first 
Bishops of the church, and the suc- 
cession in ordination has come 
through these two, down to the present 
time. 

Alexander Mack. 

So strong a personality as Alexander 
Mack could not but exert a strong in- 
fluence on all his countrymen with 
whom he came into contact. Among 
the rest who were drawn to him was 
Christoph Saur, who later became the 
eminent printer and publisher of Ger- 
mantown. Alexander Mack had three 
sons and two daughters. Alexander 
Mack became a Bishop at Ger- 
mantown; Valentine, another son, 
united himself with the Ephrata 
Seventh Day Baptists in 1737, and 
died there in 1755. He was mystically 
inclined, but was a man of no little 
ability. The first Alexander Mack, 
whose name must ever be held in the 
profcundest respect and veneration by 
every member of the Brethren Church, 
died in 1735. His career was a stormy 
one. Persecution, loss of estate, exile, 
migration to a land of liberty, all were 
his portion. But his character shone 
but the brighter for what he under- 
went. He was ever and under all cir- 
cumstances the same gentle, loving 
spirit, living in his own life the doc- 
trines he preached, and leaving in his 
life and teachings a priceless heritage 
to the church he founded and de- 
fended. 

Other Leaders. 
Among the other early leading 
spirits who came over with Alexander 



(8) 

Mack, and who gave the services of 
their lives in building up the church, 
we may mention Ernst ChristophHoch- 
man, who, however, never came to 
America. He wrote a lengthy "Con- 
fession of Faith," which is given in 
full in this volume. It was written 
in prison. It expresses more nearly 
than any other contemporary docu- 
ment the views of the Brethren at 
Schwarzenau, in 1702. John Naas 
was another leader and preacher, and 
was, next to Mack, the most influen- 
tial and successful defender of the doc- 
trines of the new church. He was held 
in high esteem by Mack. He did not 
come over with the latter, although 
he was persuaded to do so in 1733. He 
has left behind him a very lengthy let- 
ter, describing all the incidents of his 
voyage hither, and which is exceed- 
ingly interesting and valuable. Dr. 
Brumbaugh quotes it in full. He was 
a learned man, became a Bishop in the 
church and wrote a number of hymns. 
Another man who had much to do 
with organizing the Taufers in Europe, 
but who never came to this country, 
was Christian Libe. He was a mem- 
ber of the Crefelt colony, was an 
eloquent and gifted man, and his voice 
was heard throughout the Palatinate 
preaching the religion he loved. His 
enthusiasm won him a place in the 
galleys for two years, but even that 
was UDable to repress his zeal. Stephen 
Koch was also at one time a leader 
and held in high esteem, but 
he was won by the mysticism 
prevailing in the community at 
Ephrata. He had come over with 
Beissel in 1720. Abraham Duboy was 
another eminent preacher. He joined 
the church in 1712, and came over with 
Mack in 1729. He served the Great 
Swamp congregation from 1738 until 
his death, in 1748. John Henry Klock- 
glasser was another of the companions 
of Mack, but he, too, contracted strange 
views and united his fortunes with 



(9) 

Beissel's community. John Hildebrand 
was another who early came into the 
Taufer communion. It is thought that, 
not being advanced as rapidly in the 
church as he believed was his due, he 
took the course he did, casting his lot 
with the Ephrataites. Andreas Frey 
was rioted for his controversy with 
Conrad Beissel, whose views he op- 
posed. Count Zinzendorf won him 
c\er to the Moravian Church, but soon 
he began to question their faith and 
practices, and returned to the Breth- 
ren, by whom he was again received 
into fellowship. He, however, turned 
on his former friends, the Moravians, 
and wrote a book, in which he as- 
sailed them most violently. This 
caused a sensation, but he never re- 
voked his assault. Many other men 
influenced and assisted to mould the 
early church. Among them were 
Henry Traut, Jacob Price, George Bal- 
ser and others. They were devout. 
God-fearing men and instilled their 
fervent piety into the faith and prac- 
tices of the church so effectually that 
their influence is still felt. 

The Brethren and the Seventh-Day Baptists 
One of the most remarkable chapters 
in the church history of Pennsylvania 
is that which bears on the relations 
between the Brethren and the com- 
munity of Ephrata under Conrad 
Beissel. The latter was in the earlier 
stages of his career a full and promi- 
nent member of the Brethren Church. 
He was baptized by Peter Becker on 
November 4, 1724. Becker had preceded 
Mack to America, and had done much 
missionary work before the latter ar- 
rived. The church had, perhaps, no 
abler nor more sincere apostle than he. 
In the autumn of 1724 the Spirit of the 
Master came upon the leaders and they 
set out on a journey to visit their 
brethren in other localities. Their first 
stopping place was Indian Creek. 
Thence they went to Falckner's Swamp 



(10) 

and to Oley. Hearing of some pious 
Germans in Weaverland and at Graff's 
Thai, in the Conestoga country, they 
journey thither. They ' reached the 
Pequea Valley, and wherever they 
went they baptized men and women 
and received them into the church. 
This was the beginning of the Taufer 
Church in Lancaster county, where it 
has ever since retained its hold. 

Peter Beissel and his friends re- 
mained in full communion with the 
Brethren until 1728. He was a strange 
man and endowed with a spirit that 
brooked no rival. There had from the 
first been points of divergence and 
troubles between him and the leaders 
among the Brethren, but no separation 
until the year just mentioned. After 
that time he formed no part of the 
Brotherhood. What is more, Beissel 
was an enterprising and proselyting 
character. He went out frequently 
among his old friends and won them 
from their allegiance to the Brethren 
fold into his own, which had estab- 
lished its headquarters on the Cocalico 
at Ephrata. In the spring of 1739 the 
greatest defection occurred. At that 
time eighteen adults and many chil- 
dren joined the Seventh Day Baptists. 
Some became leaders at Ephrata. A 
few repented their step and, after a 
while, returned. These things for long 
years created more or less coldness be- 
tween these two churches. Beissel con- 
tinued his propaganda and even sent 
emissaries into the Taufer congrega- 
tions, and every one of them felt the 
effects of this movement. Ephrata bap- 
tism was recognized by the Brethren. 
Their separation was sincerely re- 
gretted on both sides, and the leaders 
ever longed for a reconciliation. There 
are, however, documents extant which 
show the sincere respect they enter- 
tained for each other and that there 
was neither hatred nor ill will, but re- 
gard, charity and forgiveness in the 
hearts of both. 



(11) 

Poor, but Industrious. 

The early Brethren who came here 
were rich in piety, but poor in the 
goods of the world. They were, how- 
ever, frugal and industrious, qualities 
they have impressed upon their de- 
scendants through five generations, and 
to-day our Commonwealth holds no 
better and no more prosperous citizens. 
But their thrift soon brought its re- 
ward. Ten years after the followers of 
Alexander Mack got here, all owned 
tracts of land ranging from a few acres 
to several hundred. They were liberal 
with their means. The Poor Book of 
the Germantown Congregation still re- 
mains. There were two contribution 
boxes into which the charitably in- 
clined dropped their mite. The record 
shows a most creditable state of things. 
Money, food, clothing and other things 
were supplied to the needy in the 
brotherhood. They practiced what they 
preached. Theirs was not lip service 
alone, but welled up from hearts ever 
open to the calls of duty. In 1770 an 
"Old Folks' Home" was established in 
which the poor of the congregation 
were sheltered and maintained at the 
expense of the congregation. It is 
probable that was the earliest estab- 
lishment of the kind among the 
Brethren. 

Earliest Congregations. 

It has been already stated that the 
mother congregation was founded at 
Germantown. The second congrega- 
tion, known as the Coventry congrega- 
tion, was organized on September 7, 
1724. It was in Chester county, near 
the Conestoga country. Prior to 1772 
it worshipped in private houses, but in 
that year a meeting-house was erect- 
ed. The second meeting-house was 
built in 1817. In 1890 the third place 
of worship was erected, and the con- 
gregation is to-day in a flourishing 
condition. It has had nineteen minis- 
ters. 



(12) 

The Great Swamp congregation was 
founded in 1733, in Bucks county. It 
never was very strong in numbers, and 
Count Zinzendorf led some away into 
the Moravian fold in 1752. 

As early as 1732 there was preach- 
ing at Oley, Berks county, and for a 
time it was quite successful. But the 
congregation was a prey to the Eph- 
rata missionaries and the Moravians, 
and in 1743 a considerable number re- 
moved to the Conoeocheague region. 

The Conestoga congregation is full 
of interest for our readers. It was or- 
ganized November 12, 1724, by Elder 
Peter Becker. Conrad Beissel was cho- 
sen minister. The first meetings were 
held on Mill Creek, in Lampeter town- 
ship, but from thence they were re- 
moved to the house of Rudolph Nagle, 
in Earl township, where the services 
were held for seven years. It was 
while he lived with and ministered to 
this congregation that Beissel began 
to develop his peculiar religious views. 
In 1728 he withdrew from the Brother- 
hood, and went, with others, to Eph- 
rata, in 1732. Those who remained 
formed an independent congregation, 
with Elder Michael Frantz as their 
leader. This new congregation was 
composed of Michael Frantz, Michael 
Pfautz, Rant Woolf, John Frantz, En- 
rich Reyer (Royer), George Reyer,John 
Landis, Samuel Good, Henry Sneider, 
Philip Rowland and others. In Sep- 
tember a remarkable method, which 
has, perhaps, never had its counter- 
part, was employed to test the loyalty 
of the members to the Brethren doc- 
trines. A meeting of the congregation 
was held, when Michael Frantz placed 
a rail on the barn floor, where the 
meeting was held. He then requested 
all who wished to join in organizing 
the new congregation to step to the 
right side, he leading the way. Those 
who desired to follow Conrad Beissel 
were requested to go to the left side 
of the rail, and in this way the peace- 



(13) 

ful separation took place. In all, the 
records of this church give the names 
of 463 persons who became members 
up to the year 1800. 

As early as 1729 some Brethren came 
from Germany and settled at Lititz. 
In 1736 these had become numerous 
enough to form a congregation. This 
was done under the Eldership of 
Michael Frantz, at White Oak, from 
which the congregation took its name. 
In 1770 this church had 65 active mem- 
bers. 

The Great Swatara, or East Cone- 
wago, congregation dates from 1752. 
It was soon augmented by arrivals 
from the more eastern churches, and 
was formally organized in 1756. It had 
thirty-nine members in 1770. 

The Little Swatara congregation 
dates back to 1745, when a number of 
Brethren settled in that vicinity. It 
had forty-five active members as early 
as 1770. 

The Northkell congregation was or- 
ganized as early as 1748, in Tulpehock- 
en and Bern townships, Berks county. 
There was much sectarianism around 
that locality, and the congregation did 
not flourish. It had only eleven mem- 
bers in 1770. 

The Codorus congregation was or- 
ganized in York county, in 1758. It 
had thirty-five members in 1770. 

Little Conewago congregation dates 
from 1738. It was in Hanover town- 
ship, York county. In 1770 it embraced 
forty families and fifty-two members. 

Conewago congregation was also es- 
tablished in York county in 1741. It 
was a flourishing church,with seventy- 
seven communicant members in 1770. 

Still another congregation was es- 
tablished in York county in 1758, the 
Bermudian church, which at first was 
under Conrad Beissel's direction. 

The first congregation west of the 
Alleghenies was established at "Brue- 
derthal," in Somerset county, about 
1762. It had an active membership of 
seventeen in 1770. 



(14) 

In all there were fourteen congrega- 
tions in Pennsylvania in 1770, with an 
aggregate membership of 528. Con- 
sidering that the Brethren were all 
Germans, and that their message was 
only to Germans, while the dominant 
population was English, their growth 
was most encouraging. 

Some Brethren crossed the Dela- 
ware in 1733 and settled at Amwell, 
Hunterdon county, where a church 
was organized. It had forty-six mem- 
bers in 1770. 

The first congregation organized in 
Philadelphia was at the corner of 
Fourth and Vine streets in 1813. 

What the Brethren Church Has Accom- 
plished. 
From what has already been said it 
will be seen that Taufer church orga- 
nizations were formed in the Pro- 
vince of Pennsylvania even before 
Lutheran and Reformed congregations. 
But that is not the only prominent 
distinction of the Brethren. They were 
first in a number of other important 
things, which will be briefly enumer- 
ated. Dr. Brumbaugh asserts there is 
evidence to claim that the German- 
town congregation had a Sunday-school 
as early as 1738, or before. Ludwig 
Hooker is believed to have been the 
leader in that school, inasmuch as be 
started a similar school when he joined 
the Ephrata Community. That was 
more than a quarter of a century be- 
fore the first Sunday-school was estab- 
lished in England. 

Books and Printing. 

The Brethren may justly claim to 
have been the first among all the Ger- 
man religious denominations to have 
taken up the art of printing. As early 
as 1738 Christopher Sower procured a 
printer's outfit from the Fatherland — a 
small press and a collection of type. 
He set up his printing office in Ger- 
mantown, and then began that won 



(15) 

rierful series of publications that for 
generations distinguished the Sower 
family. In that same year his first 
book was issued. It was an A, B, C 
and spelling book. That in itself is a 
noteworthy fact. Instead of being un- 
lettered and opposed to education, as 
has been charged by some ignorant 
writers, they were in reality the 
friends and patrons of learning. This, 
their earliest printed book in the 
country, proves it. During 1738 also 
appeared "The High-German American 
Calendar for the year 1739." This 
was the first almanac printed in the 
German language in America. It was 
issued annually for a period of forty- 
nine years. They were popular all 0"ver 
the country and were the forerunners 
of Bear's almanacs in the matter of 
containing daily weather predictions. 

In the same year, 1739, was printed 
the first German hymn book. Some of 
the hymns were composed by Brethren 
hymn writers and the rest were select- 
ed. The need of such a book was much 
felt, and a volume of more than 800 
pages, the "Weyrauch's Hugel," was 
the result. Dr. Seidensticker, in his 
"First Century of German Printing in 
America," says: "It is the first Ameri- 
can book in German type." 

Prior to 1791 the Taufers had no 
hymn book of their own. They used 
the "Davidische Psalterspiel," a book 
containing more than a thousand 
hymns. These were printed in Europe, 
and were costly. In 1744 a selection of 
hymns was made, and published under 
the name of "Das Kleine Davidische 
Psalterspiel." It is a book of 530 pages, 
containing 536 hymns. About fourteen 
editions of it were printed for the use 
of the Germans of Pennsylvania. The 
first English hymn book published for 
the use of the Brethren was issued in 
1791 by Peter and William Libert. 

In 1739 Sower also issued the first 
number of "Der Hoch Deutsch Penn- 
sylvanische Geschicht-Schreiber," the 



(16) 

first German newspaper in America. 
So rare is this newspaper that but a 
single copy of the first number is 
known to be in existence. A fac simile 
of its four pages is reproduced in Dr. 
Brumbaugh's volume. It was a small 
sheet, of four pages, each 13x9 inches, 
and the first number bears the date of 
August 20, 1739. In 1751 its subscrip- 
tion list was 4,000, which taxed the 
press to its utmost so that the pub- 
lisher was at times compelled to apol- 
ogize for its tardiness. There were 
350 subscribers in Lancaster county at 
that early day. Not so bad for our 
Pennsylvania-German forefathers. 
Sower's Bible. 
But the great work of the Sower press 
was the publication of what is known 
as the "Sower Bible." This was given 
to the world in 1743. It is quarto in 
form, 7 1 / &xl0 inches in size, containing 
1,248 pages. It is the first Bible in a 
European language that was printed 
in America. It was a wonderful under- 
taking for that period, especially when 
the resources of Sower's printing office 
are considered. He had only type 
enough to make four pages. These 
were "set up," printed, and then "dis- 
tributed" again and four more pages 
set up. This Bible was printed 39 
years before an English Bible was 
printed in America. Let no Pennsyl- 
vania-German forget that fact. In 
1763 a second edition of the Bible was 
published by the first Sower's son, and 
a third edition in 1776. In the preface 
to this last edition Sower says: "There 
appears now, for the third time on this 
American continent, the Holy Bible in 
the so-called high German language, 
to the honor of the German people; in 
this, that no other nation can show 
that the Bible on this continent has 
been printed in their language." 

The First German Magazine. 
It appears the profits from publish- 
ing the Bible were so much greater 



(17) 

than Sower had anticipated that he de- 
cided to issue, and did issue, the 
"Geistliche Magazin," and distributed 
it free of cost. This was the first 
leligious magazine published in 
America. It was continued at inter- 
vals for a period of seven years. In 
all, fifty numbers were printed and 
given away. In addition to these 
earliest publications of their kind in 
this country, the Sowers, father and 
sen, sent out 340 different books, mak- 
ing in the aggregate over 500,000 
volumes. 

So many interesting facts relating 
to the early history of the Brethren 
Church press upon our attention that we 
cannot allude to them all. We hasten 
on, presenting such as may be of the 
greatest general interest. 

The Ministry. 
In the early history of the church the 
practice now adopted of advancing 
ministers to the second degree in the 
ministry did not prevail. There was 
no second degree then. The elected 
minister was only permitted to exhort. 
He was advanced to eldership "on 
trial." If his ministry was successful 
and approved he was ordained by the 
imposition of hands and became an 
elder. In the trial state they could 
baptize and officiate at marriages. 

Oath of Allegiance. 
In June, 1777, the war for independ- 
ence being then on, the Legislature re- 
quired every citizen to abjure allegiance 
to the British crown and take the oath 
of allegiance to Pennsylvania. This wr.s 
hard on the Brethren, because they op- 
posed all war and all oaths. They 
were loyal to the new Government, 
and would no doubt have gladly re- 
signed their allegiance to Great Bri- 
tain, but they could not conscientiously 
take the oath. For this they were for 
a time considered as public enemies, 
and many were cited to appear before 



(18) 

the legally constituted authorities, 
fined and imprisoned. In some things 
they seemed in advance of their times. 
Sower protested violently against 
human slavery. He wrote an essay 
"Against Lotteries," an institution then 
almost universally patronized. 

Annual Meetings. 

At first the church had no represen- 
tative body and no General Conference. 
Church unity was preserved by the fre- 
quent visitations from congregation to 
congregation. The coming of Count 
Zinzendorf changed this. He declared 
his mission to be to no one church or 
sect, but to all. A movement was made 
to unite all the Germans under a Gen- 
eral Synod. This was in 1747. Seven 
of these Synods were held. They were 
attended by representative men from 
the following denominations: Tunkers, 
Lutherans, German Reformed, Menno- 
nites, Schwenkfelders, Siebentaegers, 
Separatists, Hermits and Moravians. 
The Brethren took a lively interest in 
these Synods,and out of them at length 
arose the exclusively Taufer Annual 
Meeting. The first of these of which 
the records have been preserved was 
held in 1778. No minutes are known 
of those held between 1742 and that 
time. 

Love Feasts. 

Love Feasts were held by the Ger- 
mantown congregation from an early 
period, but at irregular intervals. One, 
of which the minutes have been pre- 
served,/ was held on August 2, 1792, 
after having been discontinued for 
fourteen months and six days. Fifteen 
months later still another is recorded, 
on December 19, 1793. Also, in 1794- 
5-7, and at intervals of about a year. 
The record says: "The 19th of Nov. 
1801, the Lord's Supper was held 
in the Taufer Brotherhood, at Ger- 
mantown, after having rested for one 
year, one month and fifteen days." 



(19) 

There were changes in these Love 
Feasts, as a letter from David Sower 
to his sister fully shows. He writes: 
"Forty years ago, if any of the church 
had dared to make the changes which 
Elders Keyser and Price have made, 
what would old Brother George Schnei- 
der have said? If, instead of a hearty 
dish of soup and a good slice of meat, 
only bread and coffee had been placed 
before them, how would Sister Annie 
Schreiber and Susannah Weber have 
scratched their heads in wonder?" 

The Dress Question. 

A prescribed style of dress was not 
originally a special feature among 
the Brethren. There is no ev- 
idence that a distinctive garb 
was worn. That they dressed plainly 
is to be inferred from their opposition 
to vain show, and out of economy. 
They took the plain hats and bonnets 
from the Quakers, no doubt, as they 
were worn by all non-resisting sects. 
The women did not atiopt the fleeting 
fashions of the hour, therefore the old- 
time dress of the last century was per- 
petuated. Along with the other citi- 
zens, they agreed to forego wearing 
imported stuffs at the breaking out of 
the Revolution, and wore homespun 
instead. This has been, in some de- 
gree, the practice ever since. This 
practice was kept up also to make the 
dividing line between them and other 
people more distinct. Full beards 
were worn by the Brethren from the 
first; no razors touched their faces. 
This was, perhaps, because meri in pub- 
lic life were then all clean shaven. 
Every one of the signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence was clean 
shaven. There is no evidence, how- 
ever, that dress was made a test of 
membership among them until re- 
cently. 

Mode of Baptism. 

From the time of their origin, trine 
immersion, for adults only, has been 



(20) 

regarded as baptism by the Taufers. 
The traveler and historian, Acrelius, 
who was well acquainted with them 
and their customs, describes the mode 
of baptism that prevailed in 1750. He 
writes: "They seldom receive any 
others than those who have been al- 
ready baptized, and who thus have 
some knowledge of Christianity; but if 
they have been brought up in our So- 
ciety, we first instruct them. When 
they come to the water the minister 
there puts to them the necessary ques- 
tions, which are to be answered (the 
confession of faith was made standing, 
not kneeling). Then the person falls 
down upon his knees in the water, 
places both his open hands before his 
mouth, with the ends of his fingers 
turned toward his nose, so as to keep 
his nostrils closed, and the same with 
his mouth. The minister then lays 
his right hand crosswise over the 
other's hands and presses them closely 
together, holding his left hand behind 
his neck, and thus plunges the person." 
This is done three times, in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost. David Sower, a 
regular minister, in the early years of 
the present century, received a woman 
into the church by baptism. He ad- 
ministered immersion only once, by 
the backward action, "in the name of 
Jesus." This was an innovation, and 
Sower was put out of the church. 
From this it is seen that trine immer- 
sion has been strictly adhered to in 
the church. 

Doctrines of the Church. 

We can state the main doctrines of 
the church but briefly. It holds to 
the Bible for its faith and practice. 
The Triune God is accepted, the divin- 
ity of Jesus declared and the Holy 
Ghost honored. Faith, repentance and 
baptism are the way to salvation. In 
no other way is salvation possible. 
Baptism is administered by trine im- 



(21) 

mersion. There has never been a de- 
parture from this mode. Infant bap- 
tism is regarded as unscriptural. Feet 
washing is held to be a divine ordi- 
nance. It is only observed at the love 
feasts. The Love Feast, or Lord's 
Supper, is a divine ordinance, and 
never observed only with the Commu- 
nion. It is a full meal, partaken of by 
the members in the evening only. The 
Holy Kiss, or Salutation, is given at 
the Lord's Supper. It is also given 
at the meeting or parting of the 
Brethren. In observing the love feast, 
feet washing and the kiss of saluta- 
tion strict propriety of the sexes is 
observed. Sisters perform these ser- 
vices with each other,and the brothers 
only with themselves. Communion is 
administered after feet washing. Un- 
leavened bread and unfermented wine 
are used. These ordinances are open 
only to members in good standing. 
The church government is democratic. 
The membership rules. In serious 
matters the congregations appeal for 
guidance to District Meetings, made 
up of delegates from the various 
churches. The Annual Meeting is the 
highest tribunal of the church, and its 
decisions are final. Elders, ministers 
and deacons are elected by the church 
from among the members, and have 
charge of all congregational activity. 
The ministry is not salaried, but poor 
ministers and missionaries are cared 
for. In dress the Brethren are plain. 
Anything else is at variance with the 
spirit of the church. Legal contro- 
versies are avoided, they holding it 
oetter to suffer wrong than go to law. 
The church, however, grants a mem- 
ber permission to do so who feels he 
has been wronged, and can give good 
reason for his belief. All differences 
between members are adjusted in the 
Council Meetings. They do not swear, 
but affirm. They do not sit on juries 
trying murderers,having conscientious 
scruples against capital punishment. 



(22) 

They do not go to war, but are stead- 
fast in their love of peace. They are 
strenuously opposed to secret societies, 
and all membership in them is strictly 
prohibited. None can become mem- 
bers without first sundering all such 
ties. 

Educational Matters. 

Nor has the Brethren Church been 
indifferent to educational matters. On 
the contrary it has displayed a most 
commendable activity along these lines. 
Once there was indifference if not op- 
position to higher education. That is 
a thing of the past. To-day it has Ju- 
niata College, in Pennsylvania; Mount 
Morris College, in Illinois; Bridge 
Water College, in Virginia; Lordsburg 
College, in California; McPherson Col- 
lege, in Kansas, and others of more 
recent date in Indiana, Alabama and 
Virginia. Bright men at the head of 
these institutions are pushing the edu- 
cational work of the church with mar- 
velous success. It has undergone a 
wonderful transformation in recent 
years, in this particular. 

Marriage is held to be a Divine ordi- 
nance, not to be dissolved by the 
courts of law. Divorce is forbidden 
and divorced persons cannot become 
members until the death of the di- 
vorced wife or husband. Aged and 
poor members are cared for by the 
Brotherhood. Members are never sent 
to almshouses. Homes for such are 
now maintained in many districts. 
Temperance is a time-honored princi- 
ple of the Brethren. They are not al- 
lowed to engage in the liquor traffic. 

Finally, the membership is temper- 
ate, sober, honest and industrious. For 
nearly two centuries it has been held 
that the word of a Taufer is as good as 
his bond. They pay their obligations 
promptly and live within their in- 
comes. They live a life which they be- 
lieve in accordance with the teachings 
of our Saviour, and in so doing have 



(23) 

acquired that high standing for 
honor, honesty, piety and godliness 
which has for many generations gained 
for them the reputation of being among 
the best citizens of our Commonwealth. 

As was stated in the beginning of 
this little booklet, it has been the pur- 
pose of the writer to make the mem- 
bers of the Brethren Church better ac- 
quainted with their long and honora- 
ble history. He has gleaned from Dr. 
Brumbaugh's volume only some of the 
more important details. But all the 
facts should be known to the reader, 
and that is only possible by direct ref- 
erence to Dr. Brumbaugh's most ex- 
cellent and admirable history. 

F. R. D. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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